Kyle Busch chases leader Jimmy Johnson, who scored a flag
to flag win in the "Prelude to the Dream" at Eldora. (Jim Denhamer)

Jimmy Johnson Leads "Prelude" Flag to Flag

ROSSBURG, Oh. - June 9. Jimmy Johnson clearly wasn't over-thinking Eldora Speedway when he stepped into a dirt
Late Model race car on Wednesday and outran his fellow NASCAR brethren in a 30-lap "Prelude to the Dream" benefit
race. Johnson credited - at least in part - his lack of experience in these types of race cars to his
success.

"I didn't practice, and in a weird way, I think that was helpful," Johnson said during post-race interviews.
"You can't simulate a track this big and this fast. The small track I tested on last year hurt me some, because I
brought in bad habits for a tighter radius corner.

Tony Stewart ponders his pieces and parts at the Prelude.
(Jim Denhamer)

"This time I showed up cold turkey, not testing, and I went after it and qualified fourth, third in the heat and
won the main -- a really cool night."

Not that Johnson didn't have time to think, as his winning average speed in this year's sixth
version of the event was about 27 mph, thanks to one caution flag, on average, every other lap in a race in which
only green laps counted.

Clint Bowyer and #66 Dave Blaney race for position at Eldora.

(Jim Denhamer)

The heat races went smoothly, with wins going to Bill Elliot, Ryan Newman, and Kyle Busch, who passed Jason
Allgaier with two laps to go,

The annual event is run to benefit St. Jude's Children's Hospital, Cincinnati Children's Hospital, and Riely's
Children's Hospital of Indianapolis.